Short answer: the Magnepan LRS+. It ranks #179 of 226 floorstanding speakers by sound quality, rated 3.5/5, at $1,300; the Triangle Solstice 8 ranks #211, rated 2.9/5, and costs $2,799, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
The Magnepan LRS+ is the better-sounding option. Thin, two-way planar-magnetic open-baffle/dipole panel design (about 48” tall, just 1” deep). Watch for: Extremely current-hungry and power-hungry: even a pair of 600W Macintosh monoblock amplifiers only averaged about 90dB output.
What the Triangle Solstice 8 does well: The three-way floorstander of Triangle’s 2026 Solstice range, which replaces the Esprit series of the Triangle Esprit Antal Ez, with a horn-loaded magnesium tweeter, a 16cm midrange and two 16cm woofers. Watch for: No independent measurements yet, so its tonal balance and directivity can’t be compared with ranked speakers.
Buy the Magnepan LRS+. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Triangle Solstice 8 and costs less, so only choose the other one for a particular feature it does better.
About the ratings: the Triangle Solstice 8’s rating is estimated from measured siblings and predecessors rather than its own measurements, with a likely range of 2.4 to 3.4, so this verdict could change once it is measured.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Passive Home rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Magnepan LRS+ | Triangle Solstice 8 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1300 per pair | $2,799 per pair |
| Ranked | #179 of 226 in Large Size Floorstanding Speakers | #211 of 226 in Large Size Floorstanding Speakers Estimated |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 67Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | - |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 74Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 38Hz (manufacturer specified) |
| Sensitivity | 85.1dB (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 91dB (manufacturer specified) |
| Drivers | Full-range planar magnetic dipole panel (48” tall x 13.5” wide); quasi-ribbon design, two-way with separate mid/bass and tweeter ribbon sections | 1x 25mm magnesium alloy horn tweeter, 1x 16cm cellulose midrange, 2x 16cm paper-cone woofers |
| Weight | 30 lbs (13.6 kg) | 67 lbs (30.4 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | open baffle | - |
| Impedance | 4 ohms nominal, 3 ohms minimum (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 8 ohms nominal (manufacturer specified) |
| Dimensions | 48”H x 13.5”W x 1”D (1219.2 x 342.9 x 25.4 mm) | 42.3”H x 12.1”W x 15.5”D (1075 x 308 x 394 mm) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 1.27 | - |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 4.32 | - |
| DIY Kit | No | - |
| Frequency Response | - | 38Hz - 22kHz (±3dB, manufacturer specified) |
| Enclosure | - | 3-way bass-reflex with a hidden port in the base |
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Prices on this page were last checked October 11, 2026 at 4:59 PM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
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The Two Speakers In Full
Magnepan LRS+: $1300 per pair Magnepan eBay
Pros: Thin, two-way planar-magnetic open-baffle/dipole panel design (about 48” tall, just 1” deep). Delivers a uniquely dramatic and enveloping soundstage with genuinely three-dimensional depth effects that work across all music genres, not just classical or orchestral material as commonly assumed. Extremely tight, locked-in center-phantom imaging when set up correctly. Open-baffle design avoids the “boxy” enclosure coloration of conventional cabinet speakers. Multitone distortion is remarkably consistent from low to high frequency, a characteristic the reviewer hasn’t observed in conventional cone-and-dome speakers. Compression at high output stays modest (about 0.5-1dB) through the midrange and treble, giving roughly 20-26dB of usable dynamic range in that region. At its price, a strong contender for a dedicated secondary listening room, even if not a main-system replacement. Measured bass extension of 74Hz (-3dB), with a measured sensitivity of 85.1dB.
Cons: Extremely current-hungry and power-hungry: even a pair of 600W Macintosh monoblock amplifiers only averaged about 90dB output. A robust, high-power amplifier is essentially mandatory, and budget amps won’t cut it. Bass rolls off very quickly (F3 74Hz, F10 67Hz, described as falling off “like a rock”), making a subwoofer an absolute requirement for any low-end content. A roughly 3dB dip in the mid-bass (100-300Hz) region thins out vocal body and fullness compared to a conventional bookshelf speaker. A resonance/bump around 400Hz adds a mild boxy quality, though it responds well to about 2dB of EQ correction. Extraordinarily fussy about exact positioning: both seating height (must align with the acoustic reference point between the panel’s lower tie-down points) and horizontal aiming are unusually critical; moving just a couple of inches can cause treble content above roughly 500-600Hz to nearly vanish. Distinct off-axis cancellation zones exist directly to the sides of the panel, where very little sound is audible at all. Fails badly under extreme dynamic-transient testing in the bass, and the reviewer blew fuses pushing the speaker during testing: not built for high-volume or highly dynamic playback. A genuinely different category from conventional hi-fi speakers, requiring more setup patience and experimentation than a typical monopole design.
Full Magnepan LRS+ review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 67Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 74Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| DIY Kit | No |
| Dimensions | 48”H x 13.5”W x 1”D (1219.2 x 342.9 x 25.4 mm) |
| Drivers | Full-range planar magnetic dipole panel (48” tall x 13.5” wide); quasi-ribbon design, two-way with separate mid/bass and tweeter ribbon sections |
| Impedance | 4 ohms nominal, 3 ohms minimum (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | 85.1dB (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 1.27 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 4.32 |
| Weight | 30 lbs (13.6 kg) |
| Woofer Cabinet | open baffle |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Triangle Solstice 8: $2,799 per pair Estimated ListenUp eBay
Older model: the Triangle Esprit Antal Ez (ranked lower, rated 2.5/5). See every Triangle Esprit and Solstice generation.
Pros: The three-way floorstander of Triangle’s 2026 Solstice range, which replaces the Esprit series of the Triangle Esprit Antal Ez, with a horn-loaded magnesium tweeter, a 16cm midrange and two 16cm woofers. Rated from 38Hz (±3dB) at 91dB sensitivity, it is easy to drive.
Cons: No independent measurements yet, so its tonal balance and directivity can’t be compared with ranked speakers. It is new enough that no reviews have been published yet.
Full Triangle Solstice 8 review and specifications →
| Released | Jun 2026 (4 months ago) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 38Hz (manufacturer specified) |
| Dimensions | 42.3”H x 12.1”W x 15.5”D (1075 x 308 x 394 mm) |
| Drivers | 1x 25mm magnesium alloy horn tweeter, 1x 16cm cellulose midrange, 2x 16cm paper-cone woofers |
| Enclosure | 3-way bass-reflex with a hidden port in the base |
| Frequency Response | 38Hz - 22kHz (±3dB, manufacturer specified) |
| Impedance | 8 ohms nominal (manufacturer specified) |
| Sensitivity | 91dB (manufacturer specified) |
| Weight | 67 lbs (30.4 kg) each |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- No independent measurement review is linked for this model; it is ranked from hands-on listening and comparison against similarly priced speakers.
- Head-to-Head Comparisons